The Environmental Working Group last week released its list of the "dirtiest" and "cleanest" items available in the produce aisle. Strawberries, nectarines and spinach topped the list of most pesticide-laden foods, while sweet corn, avocados and pineapples were rated the "cleanest."

“Most people I speak to have no idea how many pesticides are detected on conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables,” EWG Senior Analyst Sonya Lunder told us Thursday.

The EWG identified at least 178 different pesticides on a variety of produce, even after they were washed, and in some instances, peeled.

That's just the tip of the iceberg, according to Lunder.

"There are hundreds of pesticides that are licensed for use," she said.

Pesticides have been linked to a number of health hazards, from short-term issues like headaches and digestive problems to chronic conditions like cancer and endocrine disruption.

Unfortunately, the negative side effects of pesticide exposure must be proven before use of the chemical is prohibited.

"We're looking upstream and hoping that the EPA and other regulatory agencies do as much as possible to prevent these damages, instead of spending the money and time to document the problems once they've happened," Lunder said.

The higher price of organic, pesticide-free foods also make them less accessible to many Americans.

“We’re used to cheap foods in the US, and there’s a huge subsidies system that makes that possible, whether we’re subsidizing corn and soy to make corn oil and soy protein, all these additives that make processing food possible," Lunder said.

Here's the full list of the "dirtiest" and "cleanest" vegetables of 2017:

EWG's "Dirty Dozen" list for 2017:

Strawberries

Spinach

Nectarines

Apples

Peaches

Celery

Grapes

Pears

Cherries

Tomatoes

Sweet bell peppers

Potatoes

At least one pesticide was found on 98 percent of the tested strawberries, spinach, peaches, nectarines, cherries and apples.